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Garish Gal has officially been in business 3 YEARS! I can’t tell you how exciting, but also shocking that is! It certainly does not feel like it has been three years, but I am excited to see where the next few years take GG.

I get asked a lot about what it is like to start a business. Everyone wants to know what the journey is like, but few actually want to put in the work it takes to do so. I thought I would put together a list of things that no one really talks about. I feel like everyone wants starting a business to sound like it is all roses and immediate success, but that isn’t always what it actually is. So here are the Top 5 Things They Don’t Tell You About Starting A Business!

1. You will Lose Sleep

Every time I get charged for a shipment, I have a mini panic attack. I worry if the customers will like the new merchandise and I worry if it will sell. There are many nights you can’t sleep because your mind is so focused on the business. There will be mornings (and I am NOT a morning person) that you wake up at 4am thinking about something you should be doing for the business instead of sleeping. Learn to shut it off. It took me a long time to learn this. If I am being honest, I am still learning. I could worry myself to death with all the things that need to get done, but I know that I have to carve out time for myself. So I make a list of the things I need to do by the end of the day, once those are completed I move the rest to tomorrow’s list. Don’t let it consume you and find an outlet to relieve the stress and pressure!

2. It’s Okay to Delegate

It is okay to be bad at certain things within your business. I think when we start a business we think we have to do it all to save money. I learned the hard way that in the long run I was hurting sales because I was trying to do things I don’t do well on my own. We all have weaknesses, but we all also have strengths. When we recognize where we are weak, we also recognize where we are strong. Hire the photographer, hire the accountant, hire the social media person, hire someone for your weaknesses so that you can build your strengths. Your business will thrive much better when you focus on what you are good at and hire others where you are weak. We can’t do it all and we don’t have to.

3. You will Sacrifice A LOT

People tend to think that if you own a small business you have a ton of money and you are making a ton of money. This could be farther from the truth. If you took all the hours you spent working on your small business, you would be the most underpaid person in the world. You have to sacrifice time–be it with family, friends, or from something you want to do. But all the sacrifice is totally worth it. The minute someone comes in and buys something they LOVE, it makes every sleepless night and all the long hours seem like nothing. It drives you through the times when you have to miss that party you really wanted to go to, or the concert everyone is at but you.

Sidenote–I am not saying you should sacrifice relationships for your business. Success is incredible, but we were build for relationship. There is nothing more lonely than achieving success and having no one to celebrate it with. That doesn’t just mean partner, but friends and family as well! When you are surrounded by good people, your success actually increases. So make sure your tribe is one that uplifts and supports your dream!

4. It takes HARD WORK

As a millennial, I constantly hear how we are notorious for not being hard workers. Owning a business will throw that out the door. I grew up surrounded by hard workers–my parents and my grandparents taught us to work our tails off. I am so grateful for that because I see SO many people think they can start a successful business by doing the bare minimum. I see business after business fold because people don’t want to put in the work. The old adage you get out of it what you put into it holds true. It takes a lot of work to make a business thrive and there will be times when you don’t want to do the work. When that happens I promise you will immediately see the consequence of that laziness. So prove them wrong–show them that as a millennial you can work hard and drive a successful business. Otherwise, you are just wasting time and money!

5. It will be the Most Rewarding thing You Do

There is no better feeling than seeing my business have successes. I don’t like to say Garish Gal is successful, I like to say she has successes. Every day is different and every day is a challenge. There will be failures, or as I like to call them lessons learned. Don’t let them keep you from going after your dream. I remember before I started GG I told a boy I liked that I was starting a business. His response was “really are you smart enough and do you have enough money for that?” It almost stopped me from starting GG altogether. I remember thinking he was so right I am not smart enough, after all I was only 22. I had started reading a book by Brene Brown and she made some statements that stopped me in my tracks.

“I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.

Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.

A lot of cheap seats in the arena are filled with people who never venture onto the floor. They just hurl mean-spirited criticisms and put-downs from a safe distance. The problem is, when we stop caring what people think and stop feeling hurt by cruelty, we lose our ability to connect. But when we’re defined by what people think, we lose the courage to be vulnerable. Therefore, we need to be selective about the feedback we let into our lives. For me, if you’re not in the arena getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.” (Brown, 2012)

So I started Garish gal knowing that I might not have enough money (that’s what SBA loans are for) and that I might not be smart enough, but I had to get in the arena and try. I get to learn new things when I encounter something I am “not smart enough” for, and get to grow and stretch into a better business woman daily. Get in the arena, it will be the most rewarding thing you have ever done.

My Mom wears Garish Gal almost every single day. Sometimes she will open Garish Gal shipments for me and take what she wants! The worst part is she forgets to tell me! Don’t worry, I eventually catch her and make her pay just like everyone else!

My Mom is my best friend and inspiration. She has shattered the glass ceiling time and time again. She has been my business sounding board. She even opens and hangs up Garish Gal shipments when she knows I am overwhelmed. She is a strong bad ass boss lady and I am fortunate she has raised me with the confidence to be the same. But she is more than just a boss lady, she also been there for every break up, every failure, every fight, and every single time I have needed her. Even 2am sobbing phone calls, or angered rants where I just word vomit endlessly. I honestly don’t know what I would do without her.

So it only seemed fitting that I let her tell you what she wants for Mother’s Day, because after all it is her day and who knows what a mom wants better than my mom! Without further ado, Gals Meet my Momma Carol Talbert!

As Mother’s Day approaches, Maggie asked me to share my favorite pieces available at Garish Gal. I have several favorite spring pieces that I love and I have my eye on… Many times the clothes arrive when Maggie is traveling so I get to open the new arrivals and put them on hangers for her. Some of my favs never make it to the Boutique. I snatch up my size right away and tell her that her shipment was short one size large in that item. She then kindly bills me for the missing item! Others of my favorites I watch closely to see if they are purchased or not. I like to give them 2 – 3 weeks and if no one has purchased my size, then it is fair game for me to purchase!

My most recent favorite is one I have been waiting on since she posted it when she was at market to place her orders. I love this jacket! It fits perfect. It works great for rainy and/or spring chilly days like we have had this week. This jacket came in earlier this past week when Maggie was traveling. I grabbed my size and wore it the next day! It will transition perfectly to early summer cool mornings and nights with the shoulder and side venting. There are several new items that are my favs from the shipments last week that are only available currently in the Garish Gal Mobile Boutique. (Look for the Galaxy Girl Long Sleeve Flowered top- you will love it!)**This top will launch on the website NEXT Tuesday!**

Of course, I always love the Kimonos that Garish Gal carries. I have my eye on a new black Kimono in stock… (I already have a green one that I wear year round.) I also have my eye on the BB Dakota Butler Cozi Cardi and the BB Dakota Lamour Fringe Cardigan. These are always great pieces to help transition any outfit from day to night.

I don’t wear dresses very often but Garish Gal has talked me into the Summer nights BB Dakota Beah printed Maxi Dress. It is both flowing and flattering. I have plenty of wedding and summer events this year, so I need more pieces like this in my closet.

I am hooked on the Black Spanx Leggins! They are AMAZING. ** These will be back in stock for the Fall!**

For day to day wear, I have so many favorite blouses from Garish Gal. My two current favs are the BB Dakota Brando Printed Blouse and the Lace Long Sleeve white Tunic. The tanks available at Garish Gal are endless! I love the Chambray Ruffle Tank and the Ash Tunic Tank! Garish Gal has a Navy Cute Cropped Blouse that transcends Spring into Summer! I love it with hot pink earrings!

I can’t forget jewelry too! I have the black Arrowhead necklace and the Arrowhead bangle. I wear the Grey Stud Earrings almost every day. My favorite LipSense Glossy Gloss is Heartbreaker!

How do I say this politically correct…, you don’t have to be under 35 years old to enjoy shopping and wearing items from Garish Gal! Garish Gal has items that Maggie wears but are also still appropriate for me or her grandma to wear. It is all in what you pair it with and how you carry it off. Remember, the inspiration for Garish Gal, Great, Great Aunt Rosemary, lived well into her 80’s. She never got too old to always have a flair of Garish in her closet to set her outfit apart!

If you are not sure how to wear an item or what to pair it with, ask Garish Gal! She will be very helpful and honest with you on how to dress for your style!

I am extremely proud of my Garish Gal, Maggie, and her drive for success. Her brand is selling “Fashion with a Future” through donating a percent of the proceeds from her sales to benefit 501 organizations supporting the education for young women. I know my purchases not only support Garish Gal but I am also aiding organizations that help provide education to a young girl that may not otherwise have that opportunity.

So this year, ask for Garish Gal for Mother’s Day! You will not only be rocking a great look but you will also be giving back to help a young girl learn to read and write! Happy Mother’s Day to you and to the women in your life! Celebrate them with love!

All my love to you my sweet Baby Girl and Beautiful young woman! I will always love you to the moon and back! Keep following your dream and passion! Garish Mom

Mom’s Use Promo Code: HotMomma15 for 15% off your purchase through Sunday, May 14th!

I would be lying through this keyboard if I said that statement doesn’t bring tears to my eyes. Owning a business is the best and hardest thing I have ever done. The sacrifices and stress seem to be endless, but then again so do the rewards.

When I started my business, I had really low self esteem. I was coming off of some major life changes and honestly didn’t know who I was or what I wanted. In the back of my head I had this aching feel that I wasn’t smart enough to do this. That I wasn’t good enough & that I was wasting my time and money.

Garish Gal has so proved me wrong in so many ways, but I think this is the most important. Not only has Garish Gal given me confidence I didn’t know possible, but it gives other women confidence. I started the business with the intention of reaching out to the outcast–that person who doesn’t necessarily mesh with what society or a small town says is acceptable. I guess I have always been that person–usually described as weird, or as I like to think, Garish.

I love when a woman comes into Garish Gal for the first time and finds something she loves, but is scared to try. There’s nothing quiet like that moment when she comes out of the fitting room and sees herself for the first time. That moment she realizes she looks great & can rock that which seemed impossible a few minutes before. She walks out of that little enclosed cargo trailer, bag in hand, with a new found confidence in her heart.

That to me, is worth everything.

I want to thank everyone who has made Garish Gal what it is today. I don’t have the capacity to thank every single person in this post, but if I could I SO would.

Allie Ault, I don’t know what I would have done this year without your help! You love my business like I do & that is so incredibly special to me.

Marlee, you little beauty you, I love that I have such a great ambassador modeling Garish Gal clothes on the website. You saved me from having to do it myself (which I HATED) so I am forever grateful.

My Mom, Dad, & Grandpa for being my drivers, stand in help, support, and advisors. The moment I told you all I wanted to start a business, you were there offering any help AND you still are. I demand a lot and you all have an amazing way of meeting those demands no questions asked. I love you all to the moon & back a billion times.

I know I am forgetting people, so I am sorry if I miss you! BUT know I am beyond grateful for you!

LAST, but certainly not least, Thank YOU –all of my amazing customers. There wouldn’t have been a year 2 if you weren’t so supportive of GG! To thank you, use promo code 2CUTE for 30% off all day today. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Praying for another amazing year of blessings & success! Thanks for allowing me to do what I truly love.

Growing up I would always hear adults talk about following your dreams. However, I never actually saw any of those adults truly following their dreams. I assume they told me to follow my dreams because they never did. Because they all ended up working in jobs that are nowhere near as fulfilling as they would have thought, but they paid the bills.

So as an adult, I did follow my dreams. My dreams have taken me to places I never thought possible. To places I saw in movies and thought were reserved for people that weren’t me. At 20, I moved to New York City to start an internship with a wholesale clothing brand. I loved the city- the feeling every single day walking to work. The hustle of everyone around you. Doing their all to make ends meet on their dreams. To this day, I still have never felt such energy in any other city.

I moved back to the Midwest in order to be closer to my family and to follow a new dream. Well, it wasn’t really all that new. Since I was a little girl, I dreamed of opening my own clothing boutique. For my 5th birthday, my only present request was a cash register so I could open my own store in my basement. As I got older, I put that dream on the back burner and chased a career I thought would suffice. When you tell people you are leaving a Division One Golf Scholarship and Pre-Dental Biology Major to move to NYC to work in fashion, you get some really confused looks.

To this day, it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Garish Gal come to be October 1st, 2015 and I don’t believe I would have had the courage to start if it wasn’t for NYC.

What Following Your Dreams Means….

When you follow your dreams, they don’t tell you what it really means. It means making sacrifices, wearing many hats, stepping out of your comfort zone, and making tough decisions. Its just you. You have to be the one that makes every single decision. You are the one that is taking all the risk. You are the one that has to move back in with your parents in order to be able to afford starting a new business. You are the one that has to work multiple flexible jobs to pay your own bills and still be able to focus wholly on your business. You are the one who has to try out new ideas in hope that they will work out well for the business. Your dreams don’t pay the bills-initially. Your dreams can be overwhelming and scary. But the feeling you get when someone tells you they love your business makes every emotion and stressful moment worth it.

What They Never Told You About Following Your Dreams…

When you follow your dreams, your dreams can take you places you never imagined before. As Garish Gal is still it its’ first year, I counted on slow and steady growth. But every time Garish Gal grows in unexpected ways, I am astonished. I get overwhelmed with humility and graciousness- it usually makes me cry (but don’t tell anyone!). Garish Gal has evolved and expanded my dreams into ideas and ways I had never thought of before. It makes me insanely excited for the future and puts the stresses in their place.

The coolest part of making my dreams come true is being able to give back. Being able to support nonprofits that fund and provide education for children is the most rewarding part of owning a business. Using an insanely materialistic and shallow industry to change the lives of children is my way of bucking the system. Buying clothes changes lives-that is just plain awesome.

So follow your dreams, be prepared for the wildest ride of your life, and soak up every single moment!